sunset from behind the wire

Monday, April 10, 2017

Congressional Duties

I would like to see Congress debate use of force scenarios and options to give "the people" a voice in the situation. We have a new administration, a new Commander-in-Chief, and a new focus internationally. If Congress does nothing, the Administration will act within its prerogative under Article 2 of the Constitution**.

**Article I, Section 8, Clause 11 of the U.S. Constitution grants Congress the power to declare war. The President, meanwhile, derives the powerto direct the military after a Congressional declaration of war from Article II, Section 2, which names the President Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.

If we envision more military action against ISIS (currently underway), further action against the Taliban (currently underway), against Syria (one strike done - more pending?), against North Korea (being discussed - USS Carl Vinson currently used as bait) or anywhere else, it would be useful for Congress to authorize it - or not.

Whether or not the Syrians bombed the rebel arsenal and GB (Sarin) was accidentally released or whether they used chemical gravity bombs (somewhat ineffectively) is moot at this point because we acted on the information available at the time. The cruise missile attack against a known Syrian chemical weapons storage area was popular. Congress always follows the popular path...we know that don't we?

A specific authorization to use force under specific conditions that comes from Congress is preferable from a Constitutional/legal perspective. To date, Congress hasn't shown much inclination to see to its Constitutional duties. As an institution it prefers to wait until something has happened, and praise or condemn based on polling.

Drone Attacks

MQ - 9 Reaper

For some reason, Congress has a tin ear when it comes to responding to the vast number of drone attacks that were made during the Obama regime.

Attacks on somebody else's sovereign soil are acts of war. I'd like to see Congress take that up as well. Authorize them or don't, but do something. Yes, that may be asking too much of them.

As with the recent cruise missile attack in Syria, I don't lament the results, but would prefer that we follow the Constitution more correctly. Naturally, that opens up elected legislators for criticism if their actions are revealed by historians and the voting public to be incorrect.

Porportionality

I also find the death toll of 87 from the gas attack in Syria is lamentable -- how many were murdered to date in Chicago - double? Do I hear outrage, or are those numbers merely business as usual?

Regime Change

The US has a dismal track record in promoting responsible regime change. Saddam Hussein, Muammar Mohammed Abu Minyar Gaddafi, and going back in time to Diem in Vietnam, the results were less than perfect. Maybe Congress can debate cause and effect more clearly this next time?

Yes, they've neutered themselves. Powdered wigs would be a nice touch. I think that seeing Al Franken and Elizabeth (Fake Indian) Warren wearing powdered wigs would be something that I'd pay money (not much but a little) to watch.

They were Christians, LSP. It's politically incorrect to follow Jesus Christ these days, thus, I expect no outrage from the followers of Baal who flourish in Hollywood, in the Democrat Party and in the corrupt, elite, filthy, lying, curs in the mainstream media.

With Assad culling the herd and ISIS giving him the "right back at ya", leave them alone and the problem will eventually solve itself. Otherwise, why not Boko Haram? North Korea? China when they have their next Tiannamen Square? Are those folks all less important than a few Syrians?Or are the Syrian refugees (soon to be democrat voters) more important?

There isn't oil in North Korea, nor is there oil in the northwestern portion of Nigeria where Boko Haram flourishes and the Chinese can shoot back.

There will soon be more Syrians in Germany than Germans. I'm sitting back and eating popcorn on that one. Maybe the Germans will tire of the human lice and depose their government and will ship the Syrians home. Or not.

Then I'd need to suck up to belching civilian feather merchants for ads. There are no ads on Virtual Mirage. People read it or they don't. As a (failed) writer and novelist (based on dismal sales), I can exorcize my demons in this way while avoiding profound disappointment.

What the hell, LL. Are you trying to put polling companies and their subsidiary focus group organizers out on the street? Expecting politicians to take a stand and defend their principals (if any) isn't in their DNA. Exceptions, of course, like Trey Gowdy. Too few IMO.

Housekeeping

As of January 1, 2017 this blog began to receive anonymous posts. I try not to delete them, but if you want to be taken seriously here, you need to identify yourself, if only by some sort of cryptonym.

Welcome to Virtual Mirage

"But I don't want to go among mad people," Alice remarked.

"Oh, you can't help that," said the cat. "We're all mad here. I'm mad, you're mad."

"How do you know I'm mad," asked Alice?

"You must be," said the cat, "or you wouldn't have come here."

Good Morning

Virtual Mirage - What's on the other side of the mirror? Ask Alice how deep the rabbit hole really goes.

This blog is an extension of MY JOURNEY because sometimes my journey needs more explanation, and sometimes there is more to be said than can be expressed on one ordinary blog.

Sometimes it's politics (very serious), sometimes I address the human condition with a dose of humor, and other times it may seem as if the track is headed in a unique direction. I can be a complicated guy at times.

There are a few things you'll find I consider:

* Absence of proof is not proof of absence.

* Sometimes the questions are complex but the answers are simple.

* Love is the only condition where the happiness of another person is essential to your own.

* Steers do not sign treaties with meat packers. (think on that)

* Taxes are NEVER levied for the benefit of the taxed.

* The purpose of fighting is to win. There is no victory possible in defense.

WHITE POWDER (Novel)

There is something intoxicating about a secret.

THE OLD WHORE (NOVEL)

In the peculiar culture of the Central Intelligence Agency, "old whores" are people who will do whatever it takes to get the job done, irrespective of the cost.

EXILES FROM EDEN (NOVEL)

Sparks fly as two star-crossed lovers meet. He runs toward trouble as she yearns for something missing. And it ends in a flight from and toward justice.

About Me

Today, I balance work and play as much as anyone can. All things remaining equal, play is more important. Life is short - it's important to make every day count for something, if only to yourself.
I'm a former tinker/tailor/soldier/sailor who has now decided that maybe it really wasn't all done for nothing.

This site contains copyrighted material, the use of which may or may not have been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Such material is made available for educational purposes, and as such this constitutes 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Act. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.